Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

398 reviews

erikajosephison's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Overall I enjoyed the Maidens, but not quite as much as the Silent Patient or the Fury. While I enjoyed the twist/ending more than that of the Fury, the pace and the tone of the first 3/4 of the book were slower and more frustrating, making me like the book overall less. My main issue was that a primary enjoyment of the other two novels was the unreliable narrator. This was one of the best parts of the author's writing, and without the constant mistrust of the truth of the story being told, it did fall flat/boring in some places.

The twist was actually surprising (in part, part I was able to see coming) and didn't feel out of nowhere or forced  which I always appreciate in thrillers.

Mariana's dedication/absolute conviction to Fosca being the guilty party was actually quite frustrating to read - while in the end it did come around that this was a flaw in her character (her unwavering belief in the first thing Zoe said), it was still kind of exhausting to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder

annieree's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization

reader00's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Mental illness, Death, and Stalking

sierrabowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 I thought it was an okay story, but mostly it was very slow. The mystery itself was not that compelling, but I thought the ending left me with more questions than anything. If you haven’t read the silent patient, I would recommend reading this book first, because one character is linked to that book. I have already read the silent patient, so now I feel as if I need to reread it in order to understand it better or in a new light. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Gore, Infidelity, Drug use, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

lexm's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

I’m not normally one to write many reviews, but I’m having Feelings about this book. 

I wanted to like it so badly. The mythology elements sounded interesting and I love a murder mystery. But this book was filled with deeply unlikable characters, frustrating plot holes, and a twist ending that feels like it was added for shock value without considering how it would tie in with the rest of the book. There was also no time to sit in the chaos and aftermath of the ending, it was too abrupt. The epilogue didn’t even make it feel like we got a proper resolution. 

I also wasn’t crazy about the writing style

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Grief, Murder, Animal death, and Child abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

bella_mcnabb's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Death

mfmccoy0216's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Overall this book kept me interested, I really enjoyed many of the twists and turns but ultimately felt let down by the final twist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Mental illness, Death, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

thepurplepixel's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators. The concept was interesting. The climax and resolution largely ruined the book for me, as it was so farfetched as to be laughable. There were also many side characters whose storylines were not wrapped up. I was left with a lot of questions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Violence, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Death of parent, Abandonment, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Cursing

cookie239's review

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Death

Minor: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

allidone's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

I’m not entirely sure how, but I guessed the whole thing at one point, as kind of a “wouldn’t that be a wild twist”? I knew who the killer was from the 60% mark, but the rest of it? Wild.

I’m not sure if I liked it? If it was good? Right now I’m at a 4 but that might change.

As a therapist, it’s wild that she didn’t see any of what was going on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Stalking, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infertility